Colorado’s Republican congressional delegation has asked both the state’s U.S. senators to block the confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning until she commits to keeping the Bureau of Land Management on the Western Slope.
The request puts Democrat U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper in a wicked bind.
Both claimed to support keeping the BLM in Grand Junction during Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s visit last week.
But it didn’t sound like they really meant it or that Haaland had any intention of keeping western land managers working near actual western lands amongst us riffraff.
GRAND JUNCTION — Democrats look perturbed as U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert requests the BLM office be kept there. Back row from left: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse of Boulder, Interior Sec. Deb Haaland, Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper.
U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, and Doug Lamborn called on the senators Monday to do the right thing for Colorado by holding up President Biden’s nominee and forcing a deal.
“If the junior senator from Michigan can hold up eight Department of Defense nominations to secure a victory for his state, then one of Colorado’s two U.S. Senators can hold up the BLM Director nomination to secure a victory for Colorado,” Boebert said in a letter to the senators.
“I’ve appreciated their efforts and working with them on this bicameral and bipartisan effort. But based on comments from Secretary Halaand last week, the fate of the Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Colorado now rests on the shoulders of John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet. My hope is they will put Colorado first,” Boebert said.
Party control of the Senate is split 50-50, so it only takes one Democrat to defect and defeat Stone-Manning’s nomination.
“Before confirming any director, we must have assurances from the Biden Administration that they will keep the Bureau of Land Management in Grand Junction, where they can better serve the communities they support,” Lamborn said.
“Land management decisions are best made by the people who have an innate understanding of the issues that affect these communities,” Lamborn said.
Buck went a step further and asked both senators to put a formal hold on her confirmation until assurances are made.
Both senators have the power in this case to stand up for Colorado.
The question is, will they use it?